Sustainability
Road tested beauty for sustainable adventures
From ethical, naturally derived ingredients, to packaging made from recycled ocean plastic, Bam Ambassador Rosie Underwood shares her beauty bag staples for going off grid.
As much as I’d like to believe I wake up looking fresh as daisies whilst on adventures, perhaps just living out of a small back pack housing just my Bam kit, a wooden toothbrush I made from a twig and some biodegradable underwear, the reality is, if I don’t pack certain formulas whilst on the move, I start to give stig of the dump a run for his money.
Now don’t judge, I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed whilst camping on the side of a mountain. The elements can really start to take their toll on hair and skin, so it’s not all vanity, its safety (or so I keep telling myself.) It’s not only important that we protect ourselves from exposure to UV, wind, bears, you name it, but we also do so in a sustainable fashion.
Inexpensive suitcase staples and ‘travel minis’ have been bank rolling airports for decades and have long been littering our planet. From mini aerosols, toothpastes, shampoos and sunscreens, all notoriously adding to the planet’s mounting plastic problems, but almost too irresistibly handy to say no to.
In steps my planet loving beauty heroes. When I say I don’t travel without these, forgetting them involves small heart palpitations and some very sharp U-turns that involve dust being eaten (quite literally.)
Now just a heads up, these brands are doing their best, trying to do better for the good of the planet, but always with a pledge to better themselves and do even more.
Ren
I absolutely hail these guys and everything they’re about. Over the years I’ve worked with them on beach clean ups, watched them swallow the cost of production for more sustainable packaging, produced some of the cleanest formulas on the market and they’ve made the pledge, no matter how much it’ll cost to become zero waste by 2021. As far as I’m concerned, these guys have pioneered ground breaking ways of selling beauty in ever evolving sustainable solutions, shining a light on everything that’s been wrong with the beauty industry in the past, and bringing more hope to our future, and for generations to come. Plus, these formulas are as ground breaking as what they come housed in. Your face will thank you.
ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser – £24
Clean Screen Mineral SPF30 – £32
Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream – £49
renskincare.com
Rahua
After a road trip in the desert a good decade ago, my hair decided to resemble that of an angry scarecrow. A friend in LA introduced me to Rahua. ‘It’s pricey but worth every dime.’ I mean it when I say it totally transformed my tresses and got my shower smelling like Palo Santo. I genuinely haven’t used anything else since.
To give you a bit more context, the women of the Quechua-Shuar tribe in the Amazon have some seriously enviable locks, and they put it down to Amazonia nut oil, otherwise known as Rahua. Produced in sustainable partnership with the people of the region, the new sustainable pouches which are made from 60% renewable plant-based resources, breakdown to healthy, biodegradable compost. And now they’ve thrown a shower gel into the mix which makes you smell good enough to eat!
Refill Pouch Rahua Shower gel – £27
Refill Pouch Shampoo – £32
Refill Pouch Conditioner – £34
www.rahua.com
Weleda
Considered the original ‘green beauty’ brand, these guys have been making waves on the sustainability front for quite some time, as well as their A-list approved Skin Food quite literally saving my face on many a road trip and long-haul flight! Weleda is one of just two beauty brands worldwide (and the first in Europe) to obtain the new UEBT certification for sourcing with respect. The Union for Ethical Bio Trade is a non-profit organisation that provides a globally recognised standard for sustainable sourcing and the use of raw materials. HERE HERE!
The Pomegranate Firming Facial Oil – £38.95
Skin Food Light – £7.95
www.weleda.co.uk
Neal’s yard
Now I know glass packaging isn’t always first on everyone’s list of priorities when tackling varying altitudes, but I noticed years ago when working as a beauty editor, that this brand ranks super high on the sustainability front, ranking 100/100 for ethics, always trading sustainable and ethically whilst constantly campaigning for causes like the microbead ban and the world land trust. I point blank refuse to adventure without a jar of their Wild Rose Beauty Balm. I put on my lips, cuticles, my face at night, I use it as a cleanser and if I get sore feet or dry skin on my joints from hiking or salt water, I use it there too.
Wild Rose Beauty Balm – £40.00
Wild Rose Dry Body Oil – £35.00
www.nealsyardremedies.com
